Supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) in Livingstone have impounded two trucks from South Africa on suspicion that the vehicles are carrying presidential ballot papers.

But the manifests indicate that the trucks are each carrying eighteen thousand camp lamps for the Electoral Commission of Zambia, (ECZ) as the importer.

PF District Secretary Nelly Mwamba claims someone in Durban, South Africa sent a cellular phone text message to Zambia suggesting that the trucks were allegedly carrying ballot papers.

The UPND and PF cadres impounded the trucks Monday at the Livingstone Weigh Bridge after being informed that the vehicles had allegedly avoided to pass through the scanning machine at Zambia Revenue Authority Port Office.

The trucks were driven back from the Weigh Bridge to the ZRA Port Office where the PF and UPND supporters kept an overnight vigil as they demanded a physical search the vehicles.

Tuesday morning a stakeholders meeting was held at the ZRA Port Office where it was resolved that four representatives from the PF and UPND under police escort should accompany the trucks to the Lusaka International Airport where the vehicles will be opened to verify the contents in the presence of the ECZ and all interested parties.

Ms. Mwamba said the decision to escort the trucks was reached after leaders of the UPND and PF met ECZ officials in Lusaka.

She said the PF has accepted the resolution.

And when lawyer representing the PF and UPND, Inutu Suba from Kuta Chambers announced that the trucks should be escorted to Lusaka, UPND officials refused and suggested that the ECZ should instead send its officers to Livingstone to verify what the vehicles are carrying.

It was not clear whether the trucks will be driven to Lusaka as UPND officials were still refusing to escort the vehicles, and another meeting was called to discuss the matter further.

Election observers from SADC and representatives of the European Union countries were present at the ZRA Port Office.
[ZNBC]

Workers at the financially troubled Zambia Telecommunication (Zamtel) have gone on strike for the second time this year, demanding from management improved salaries and conditions of services.

In the process, the workers have paralyzed operations of the company, including Internet service provision.
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“Zamtel has been facing erratic operations of its services. Therefore, employees should desist from sabotaging the company’s installations,” warned Zamtel’s acting CEO, Mukela Muyunda.

The paralysis of the company’s communication system is an act of sabotage aimed at forcing management to budget to their demand, Muyunda explained. He advised all employees to go back to work, noting that the strike is illegal.

Negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service were suspended in April this year after management said the company did not have enough money to increase salaries.

Workers went on strike after hearing that the joint negotiation council that was scheduled to take place Oct. 22 failed to take off, according to the vice president of the National Union of Communication Workers.

However, Muyunda said the striking workers need to be realistic in their demands, with salary increases linked to performance. Otherwise, he said, Zamtel would end up closing down.

Zamtel is a government-run communication utility company that employs about 2,700 people. It is currently operating on a 150 billion Zambian kwacha (US$34.7 million) deficit annually and plans to lay off 30 percent of the work force as a cost saving measure.

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Government has purchased one hundred hearses to enable communities access affordable transport during funerals.

The hearses have been distributed to local councils country wide.

Local government minister, Sylvia Masebo, disclosed this in Livingstone on Monday when she handed over multi-purpose boats to 16 councils.

The boats are valued at 3.9 billion Kwacha.

She said the multi-purpose boats will also enable local authorities to monitor various development projects in areas only accessible by water.

Ms. Masebo said the boats will also alleviate transport problems during natural disasters, such as floods.

She however cautioned Zambians especially in opposition political parties not to view the distribution of the boats to local authorities as a campaign strategy.

She said government projects must continue even during an election.

The boats have been given to Livingstone, Mongu, Siavonga, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Kafue and Senanga districts.

Others are Kazungula, Kalabo, Zambezi, Samfya, Mpulungu, Kabompo, Sesheke, Chilubi and Luangwa Councils.

The Inspector general of police says presidential hopefuls should be ready to accept the outcome of the election.

Ephraim Mateyo says only one person can win in an election.

He says there are sufficient legal provisions in the constitution for people who are not satisfied with the outcome of the election to seek legal redress in the courts of law.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday Mr. Mateyo appealed to all presidential candidates to put the interest of the nation first.

He however said the atmosphere in the country is relatively calm, two days before Thursday’s presidential election.

Meanwhile a clergyman in Lusaka has asked the Inspector General of police to deal firmly with presidential aspirants who are issuing alarming statements.

Evangelical Youth Alliance International President Reverend, Moses Lungu said politicians should desist from making statements that have the potential to divide the country.

And the National Initiative for Citizens Awareness-NICA- says candidates in the October 30 presidential election must respect the outcome of the poll.

NICA president, Kelvin Sampa, says leaders must always remember that in any contest only one person emerges the winner.

He said in an interview with ZNBC news in Mpongwe that presidential candidates must respect the will of the people.

Mr. Sampa said threats from some political parties of not accepting the results are a recipe for violence.

And the Copperbelt NGO Coalition said political leaders must let Zambians be the judges of whom they want through the ballot.

Coalition chairman, Patrick Munthanga, said it is not wise for Leaders to conclude that they will win even before the vote is cast.

And the Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says remarks by some presidential candidates that they will not accept the results of Thursday’s election if they lose are a threat to Zambia’s peace.

SACCORD says candidates must not issue statements that will incite their supporters to engage in violence.

SACCORD Executive Director, Lee Habasonda, says such negative statements are also meant to undermine the integrity of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

He says political Leaders should understand that in an election there is always a loser and a winner.

Mr. Habasonda says if political party leaders are aggrieved, they should follow laid down channels to air the complaints instead of inciting violence.

He said all aspiring presidential candidates must accept the outcome of the October 30 poll to ensure peace and stability in the nation.
[ZNBC]

Government says it is committed to ensuring availability of resources for smooth running of operations at the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University.

The two Universities today ushered in new councilors to guide the two institutions on administrative issues pertinent to smooth administrative running of the two institutions.

Minister of Education Professor Lungwangwa said the Council is a trustee body expected to exhibit exemplary manner of conduct and observe highest standards of objectivity in their operations.

Speaking at an inaugural Council meeting for the Copperbelt and University of Zambia, Professor Lungwangwa pointed out that Government expects the new Council to take more responsibility in the running of the two Universities.

Professor Lungwangwa said the Council should ensure that the universities maintain the national vision by which they were made, to be maintained.

He stated that when things go wrong in the University it was the Council’s responsibility to iron out issues leading to that misunderstanding.

He further said the Council was not supposed to involve itself in the daily administration activities of the University but to make provisions which regulate matters within the administrations based on impartiality, openness and truth when executing duties.

And speaking earlier, Copperbelt University Chancellor Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi commended the Ministry of Education for coming up with a powerful team of Councilors to look into affairs of the two Universities.

He said the team will provide guidance on the vision and direction to the two institutions adding that the responsibilities are enormous saying he was confident that the Council members would certainly take the two universities to higher heights.

Professor Mwanalushi stated that the Council members should take time to read reports and learn about the problems affecting the Universities in order to provide solutions.

The Professor said he was delighted to mention that the out going chairman provided audited accounts saying the good work must be emulated by the new team.

Professor Mwanalushi appealed to Government to increase funding for the university to operate smoothly.

And University of Zambia Chancellor Jacob Mwanza said the University Council plays a pivotal role in the governance of the two institutions.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Simukanga.

Professor Mwanza noted that the University Council was also significant in the persistent conflicts in the two institutions.

He said an inquiry in the causes of unrest in the two institutions and the cause of student’s involvement in political activism to staff issues of funding has become prevalent in this period.

Professor Mwanza said he was however grateful to Government for facilitating the reopening of the University after the recent industrial unrest which led to its closure.